[Giarc]

Well, as a long time fantasy reader I think I've read most variants of fantasy plot formulae, and have enjoyed most of them greatly. However, I've recently discovered in myself a certain reluctance to pick up recently released fantasy books--even those by authors I have greatly enjoyed. Perhaps it's the aftermath of reading Jordan's entire series, I dunno.
What I've recently discovered is that I'm heartily tired of the typical scenario where the good guys are perpetually in the S**T, the bad guys/guy/power/whatever are always in the ascendence overall (even if one on one the good guy has the ultimate power). Now I realise that makes for a dramatic storyline and it's a tried and true plot outline. But...I'm bored with it. I'm sick of worrying about characters who are in impossible situations, or facing impossible odds.
I know, I know. That comes with the territory. But, does it have to? GG Kaye probably came close to writing one of the best books I've ever read (Lions of Al Rassan) and thinking back on it, that book was one where the good guys were in a fairly even power struggle (mostly). Even so, has anyone written acompelling book wherethe good guys were dominant? I know it's a bizarre notion but heck, I'd love to read such a book. It's about time the bad guys were made to sweat!
So, what do you folks think? Am I wishful thinking? Would such a book be a completely dull reading experience? Or could it be done, and done well? Has anyone read a book where the balance of power lay squarely with the good guys?

I'm interested to know.
G.

[FitzChivalry]

Well, yes, i think a book where the good guys would be kicking the bad guys' ass will be pretty boring.
But, a book where the forces are equal and the outcome depends on wits can be interesting.
Try The Amber Chronicles... i think it might interest you in that way.

[Shehzad]

That's an intruguing notion... a story where the good guys are all-powerful. It would have to take some major tour-de-force writing to pull off such a story without rendering it absolutely boring... Might bear thinking about.

[Lani]

I think the same thing happened with me. After some amount of the same type "good guys with power kick ass to bad guys" I got really tired of this. Like have you ever seen a book where the evil wins? I haven't. I agree that Amber would be a really good thing after all of those steriotyped fantasy books. Also there some other choices. Even in the "good guys" kind of books you can find something different. I think that the main criteria for the book should its unoriginality. After all, even though Jorgan,Goodkind etc. are quite interesting to read at first, they are too similar in type. I advise you to try Edding's Tamul & Elenia series. They have pretty good things in them.

[cassandra]

Most Roger Zelazny books are a cut above the stock fantasy good vs. evil plotline. The Amber books (only the first 5!) are excellent. There are books where the good guys have all the power and the overworked forces of evil try to compensate. Zelazny's "Bring Me The Head of Prince Charming" comes to mind, as well as the hilarious Gaiman/Pratchett collaboration, "Good Omens."

[FitzChivalry]

Books 6-10 of Amber are excellent too in my opinion.
The other books you mentioned are humorous and i don't think that's really what he's talking about.
But yeah, most of Roger Zelazny's books are above the usual good vs. evil plot.

[Giarc]

Hi again,
I've read Edding's stuff and it's true that the tamuli stuff is a little more of a balance between good and evil. But even so, there are obvious inequalities that place them in the same bracket as most other fantasy works. But I appreciate the response http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif I have to admit I've never read Zelazny. I think I'll try his amber series based on the recommendations above and see how he fares. Though I must admit, the title 'Bring me the head of Prince Charming' does have a certain appeal to it! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif
Thanks all for the feedback,
Sincerely,
Giarc

[Azurehero]

I read Edding's Belgeriad and the Mallorean and I didn't really remember the characters being faced with a real danger. They where all too tough. I'm not saying the books wheren't good, I was reading through one every 5 days. I'm saying there weren't a lot of real challenges in the sense that I was concerned about someone's safety.

[Lani]

Azurehero:
Well, you are probably right, but still there is no books I can think of this moment who would have challenges tougher than they were themselves. I guess that is a rule of fantasy.
Maybe you should try Tamul series. The were tougher and also a little better balanced...

[Andrew J]

Not to bring back a long-dead topic or anything, but I was just going through the archives and saw this topic, and have to say: The most annoying thing about Robert Jordan's books, after the third one or so, is that they ALWAYS begin with a really long prologue or section with the Forsaken/Sea People/whoever saying how they're going to kick the good guys' asses--"Muhahahaha!"--and the book ends with not one (or perhaps one, in a valiant act of self sacrifice that no one really remembers) person on the side of good dead. In fact, throughout the books good pretty much has the upper hand.

Basically, the problem isn't that evil is too powerful, it's just that they don't...hmm...represent.